Delayed Reaction Brats

Required String Notes:Eb - Ab - Db - Gb - Bb - Eb

How to Tune from Standard to Half-Step Down / Eb Standard

Start in standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E) and change 6 of 6 strings to play “Delayed Reaction Brats”:

String	Standard	Target	What to do
String 6	E2	Eb2	Tune down a half step
String 5	A2	Ab2	Tune down a half step
String 4	D3	Db3	Tune down a half step
String 3	G3	Gb3	Tune down a half step
String 2	B3	Bb3	Tune down a half step
String 1	E4	Eb4	Tune down a half step

Recommended string gauge: .010–.046. Tension stays close to standard, so a regular set works without any setup changes.Ernie Ball Regular Slinky (.010–.046) · affiliate link

Song Overview & Tuning Breakdown

"Delayed Reaction Brats" by Guided By Voices is played in Half-Step Down / Eb Standard (Eb - Ab - Db - Gb - Bb - Eb). Starting from standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E), you retune 6 of 6 strings: string 6 down to Eb, string 5 down to Ab, string 4 down to Db, string 3 down to Gb, string 2 down to Bb, string 1 down to Eb. Overall string tension drops, with the biggest change being 1 semitone down. Guided By Voices uses this same tuning on 11 other songs in our catalog, so you can stay tuned and keep playing.

Looking for tabs or chords?Search Ultimate Guitar

Tunings Close to Half-Step Down / Eb Standard

Already tuned to Eb - Ab - Db - Gb - Bb - Eb? These tunings are just one small change away.

Standard E241 songs

E - A - D - G - B - ESame chord shapes, every string a half step higher.

D Standard / Whole-Step Down86 songs

D - G - C - F - A - DSame chord shapes, every string a half step lower.

Drop Db / Drop C#82 songs

Db - Ab - Db - Gb - Bb - EbOnly string 6 differs: C# instead of D#.

C# Standard Tuning52 songs

C# - F# - B - E - G# - C#Same chord shapes, every string a whole step lower.

Guided By Voices’s Guitar Tunings

Guided By Voices plays 12 of 12 songs in our catalog in Half-Step Down / Eb Standard. Most-used tunings:

Half-Step Down / Eb StandardEb - Ab - Db - Gb - Bb - Eb12 songs

Gear for Half-Step Down / Eb Standard

Strings and tools that make playing "Delayed Reaction Brats" in Half-Step Down / Eb Standard easier.

Ernie Ball Regular Slinky (.010–.046)

Recommended gauge .010–.046. Tension stays close to standard, so a regular set works without any setup changes.

View strings

D'Addario Universal Micro Headstock Tuner

A headstock tuner makes switching in and out of this tuning quick, even on stage or without a mic.

View tuner

D'Addario Pro-Winder (winder + cutter)

Retuning 6 strings means a lot of turning — a winder speeds it up and trims new strings too.

View winder

Affiliate links: we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

“Delayed Reaction Brats” Tuning FAQ

What tuning is "Delayed Reaction Brats" by Guided By Voices in?

"Delayed Reaction Brats" is played in Half-Step Down / Eb Standard: Eb - Ab - Db - Gb - Bb - Eb, from the lowest to the highest string.

How do I tune my guitar to play "Delayed Reaction Brats"?

Start from standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E). String 6: tune down a half step (E2 → Eb2). String 5: tune down a half step (A2 → Ab2). String 4: tune down a half step (D3 → Db3). String 3: tune down a half step (G3 → Gb3). String 2: tune down a half step (B3 → Bb3). String 1: tune down a half step (E4 → Eb4).

What string gauge should I use for Half-Step Down / Eb Standard?

Use a .010–.046 set. Tension stays close to standard, so a regular set works without any setup changes.

Which other Guided By Voices songs use this tuning?

"Club Molluska", "Crutch Came Slinking", "Don't Stop Now", "Dusty Bushworms", "Fantasy Creeps", "Order for the New Slave Trade" and 5 more — all in Eb - Ab - Db - Gb - Bb - Eb, so you can play them without retuning.